I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 176

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 176

“Rather than that, wouldn’t it be better to focus on organizing and managing the competition to strengthen our organizational capabilities?”

“It’s not like we’ll be participating continuously, so what’s the problem? If you show a good performance this time, trust in the Lieutenant will increase.”

‘That’s exactly it – if I show a good performance.’

If I suffer a miserable defeat, who would trust and follow me?

“That… that’s true, but.”

“If it’s the Lieutenant, you’ll definitely be able to show a good performance. If you can’t even shine among the soldiers…”

The rest wasn’t said.

But I instinctively knew.

The moment I lost, I’d get a taste of Special Forces-style hell.

“I’ll go watch in person tomorrow too.”

“Yes… Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Loyalty.”

I gave a salute with less energy than usual and returned to the battalion to inform the company commanders of the news, but their reaction was the complete opposite of mine.

“Oh, that sounds fun. Honestly, I wanted to participate, so this worked out well.”

“Let’s go for the championship together, Battalion Commander.”

Captain Larsen and Captain Pitt seemed quite excited.

Seeing them made me wonder for a moment if I was the one who was wrong.

“How will the other team members be decided?”

“With us three, we need to pick seven volunteers from the squad leaders. Of course, if there aren’t any, we’ll draft them.”

Originally, you start by asking gently.

If they don’t cooperate, that’s when you become the devil.

“I’ll quickly recruit them and come back.”

“Okay.”

Captain Larsen and Captain Pitt went out to find seven party members.

It was faster than expected for the two to return as nine.

“Lieutenant Goden reporting! I’ll work hard!”

“Lieutenant Barus reporting! I’ll do my best!”

.

.

The squad leaders spoke with raised voices as if they were going off to war.

Among them was Lieutenant Barus, who was from the same class as me.

‘We’re from the same class, but one is a lieutenant and one is a major.’

Considering that military promotions go by seniority rather than ability, this was a rare sight.

“The Regimental Commander said he’d come watch, so let’s all work hard together and achieve good results.”

“The… the Regimental Commander?! I’ll stake my life on winning!”

Lieutenant Goden shouted with his eyes wide as if they might burst.

‘This guy’s going to collapse from cardiac arrest during the match.’

Well, then we could naturally withdraw due to team member health issues, which wouldn’t be bad.

“Training… if we eat dinner around five, how about six o’clock? Is that possible?”

“Yes!! It’s possible!!”

“Okay. Then I’ll see you then.”

I’d like to start training right now, but there are things I need to do first.

And right now the training ground is.

“Hey! If even one person breaks formation, it’s over! Line up a bit more!”

“Do you even have combat experience?”

“Damn it! We’re screwed.”

Loud voices erupting everywhere.

At least there were no sounds of fistfights, thankfully.

“Right, as long as there’s no physical fighting.”

Rough words are just friendly banter, aren’t they?

* * *

“The Western Expedition Army.”

Count Seto, who had returned to the capital, looked down at the map while lost in thought.

‘Seeing them gathered at Rimircastle, they must be planning to attack Belzium Castle.’

The direction of attack was all too obvious.

However, it absolutely shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“We estimate it’s over 50,000.”

At Baren’s words, who had become a lieutenant colonel again, Count Seto looked down at Belzium Castle drawn on the map.

“Currently, Belzium Castle has approximately 30,000 troops from the stationed Third Army Corps. Isn’t that a manageable difference?”

“Yes, if it’s Belzium Castle of all places, we should be able to overcome the troop difference sufficiently.”

Belzium Castle was built by pouring money into it to perform front-line duties.

City walls reinforced with much more complex circuits than other castles and various contingency measures.

The accepted theory was that it could adequately block even more than double the troop difference.

“Yes, I think so too.”

Count Seto took his gaze off the map and placed his hand on Baren’s shoulder.

“Go directly to Belzium Castle and block the enemy’s attack. Opportunities like this are rare.”

An attack that gathered even the soul of the Raikhan Empire called the Western Expedition Army.

If he could just stop this, becoming a war hero was practically guaranteed.

‘The difficulty is low compared to what can be gained.’

And such opportunities had to be seized first before Duke Abiel noticed.

“By myself, not with Father…?”

“The position of Commander-in-Chief can’t keep being tied to the east. And if I go, it’ll be hard for you to get attention even if we win.”

Count Seto had gone down to the east personally to command operations because the situation was urgent.

Commander-in-Chief was literally a position to command the entire military.

Moreover, what Count Seto needed now wasn’t his own achievements but his successor Baren’s central standing.

“Understood. I’ll go and block the enemy’s attack!”

“Good, you’re reliable. Always think two steps ahead and don’t let your guard down. The Raikhan Empire isn’t such an easy opponent.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

The arrogant Baren right after annihilating the Moleng Pirate Crew might have been different, but he had matured after his defeat in the battle at Rimircastle.

And Count Seto showed a satisfied smile at such a sight of Baren.

“Excellent. I’ll handle the position you’ll take and the preparations, so you prepare to depart today.”

“Yes, Father!”

That afternoon, Baren Seto’s second appointment order as Third Army Corps Tactical Staff Officer was issued.

* * *

“Haah!”

Clang!

Captain Larsen’s sharp attack passed by my waist with just a finger’s width difference.

‘Damn, that’s sharp.’

Still, having managed to defend, I quickly twisted my body to attempt a counterattack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Unfortunately, my movements were slightly slow, so the attack was blocked.

After exchanging about five more rounds while looking for opportunities, I created distance.

“Let’s stop here. Your skills are considerable.”

“Not at all. Battalion Commander, you’re also quite excellent.”

As expected of an ace among aces.

Even his flattery skills are exceptional.

“If someone who’s a battalion commander can’t even do this much, what use would they be? By the way, where did you learn swordsmanship?”

“Most of it I learned during my Special Forces days.”

“You were in Special Forces…?”

“I boldly volunteered but shamefully ran away after just one year.”

No, if you were Special Forces, you should have told me in advance.

‘Playing in a casual soccer match without revealing you’re a pro player is against the rules.’

Still, seeing that we fought somewhat evenly, it seems my skills have definitely improved.

“Just lasting a year is impressive. But at that level, wouldn’t you be able to adapt and get by?”

Even if it’s a tough place, only the training period and the beginning are hard,

and once that’s over, it’s usually just like any other place where people live.

“The daily high-intensity training and watching my peers tirelessly charging forward beside me was difficult at the time.”

At Lieutenant Larsen’s words, Derick came to mind without me realizing it.

‘If someone like that is next to you… it would definitely not be easy.’

Being stuck among monsters inevitably accelerates the speed of mental exhaustion.

“I know what you mean. But then, Captain, you’ll need to step up as our ace.”

Lieutenant Larsen wasn’t the first – I had crossed swords with other team members before him.

All of them had decent skills.

Still, if I had to pick the best, it would be Lieutenant Larsen, the Special Forces veteran.

‘The most disappointing skill level is…’

“Ugh! Hah!”

When I turned my head, I saw our Lieutenant Barus swinging his sword with a grimaced expression.

He’s being overpowered in strength, but his enthusiasm is admirable.

‘Still, he’ll pull his weight in actual combat.’

The current skill comparison was done among officers who are aces among aces.

If we use soldiers as the standard, the level drops significantly, so Lieutenant Barus should be considered above average.

“Let’s stop the physical training and gather around. Let’s quickly plan out a few tactics.”

“Yes!!”

As soon as I spoke, all nine team members gathered in a circle around me.

And now for tactics…

“I came prepared, Captain.”

Naturally, all eyes turned to Lieutenant Larsen.

He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

“Yes, having too many would just be complicated. I think it would be good to memorize just two things before we go.”

Lieutenant Larsen said this while showing us a diagram.

“The first is the charge formation. We’ll use this at the start of combat, and if we attack according to this formation, there won’t be any risk of isolation.”

Looking at the diagram, I was positioned at the front center, with Lieutenant Larsen and Captain Pitt diagonally behind me.

Then other squad leaders behind them.

It was a common wedge formation, but naturally, the problem was my position.

‘Why am I at the very front?’

Something was seriously wrong here.

“The front position is important. Wouldn’t it be better for the 1st Company Commander to stand there instead of me?”

“What are you saying, sir? You’re the backbone and most skilled member of our team, so naturally you should lead from the front.”

‘No. You’re the most skilled one.’

Just because our sparring ended evenly doesn’t mean I’m too stupid to recognize the skill difference.

‘Of course, it doesn’t seem like a big difference, but you’re still better anyway.’

And originally, commanders and politicians are supposed to send soldiers into danger and give righteous speeches from behind.

They don’t lead from the front.

‘And if I go down first right at the start, it’s over. Game over.’

Colonel Schultz will definitely come to watch, so just imagine showing him that kind of performance.

I’d be locked up somewhere until deployment, swinging a sword all day long.

“Still, I think the Captain would be more suitable.”

“Oh, absolutely not, sir. You must lead us.”

“That’s right. We’ll follow only you, Battalion Commander!”

In addition to Lieutenant Larsen, Captain Pitt chimed in too.

Looking around briefly, it seemed the others shared the same opinion.

‘Damn, why is everyone so eager to push me into danger?’

Even though I’m the battalion commander, ignoring the opinions of nine people isn’t easy.

“Alright, let’s give it a try.”

“Yes! And the second is more of a cover method for small-scale engagements or emergency situations rather than a formation.”

Lieutenant Larsen continued speaking.

To summarize briefly, he said that in a 10-on-10 situation, variables are bound to occur.

And since handling these variables alone isn’t easy, organic movement among personnel is necessary.

To improve that efficiency, he suggested dividing the 10 people into three groups.

“First, Group 1 will be you, Battalion Commander, myself, and Lieutenant Barus. Three people like this, and Group 2 will be Captain Pitt and…”

Lieutenant Larsen immediately explained the group compositions, and after hearing it all, it was quite sophisticated.

‘He organized it very well balanced by skill level.’

It seemed like he had planned this after watching all the sparring matches that just took place.

“How does this sound, Battalion Commander?”

“Very good. If we go with this, we’ll win the championship.”

“We have our reputation to maintain, so naturally we must win the championship.”

“Right. Let’s give it a shot.”

Actually, we’ll probably win the championship with high probability.

‘It’s not like I have no skills at all, and with me here, how could the soldiers fight properly?’

During my days as a South Korean soldier, there was once when the battalion commander came down and played futsal with us.

‘That guy was a military academy graduate so he had some skill, but he scored a hat trick that day.’

Naturally, he didn’t have hat trick-level skills – it was the result of the soldiers’ courtesy.

‘If you tackled him carelessly or stole the ball like usual, who knows what he’d do when he got pissed off.’

If that’s how it is with soccer, what about mock combat where you have to swing wooden swords directly?

I can already picture it.

‘Sorry, but your hyung is going to win. At least I’m buying the food.’

And even if I win the championship, I can just give the championship prize money to the runner-up, and the runner-up prize money to third place.

I’ll give special prize money to whichever team among those I knocked out in the process that had decent skills.

I have it all planned out.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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